SNAP Cuts are Coming November 1

October 29, 2013 by ACFB

On November 1, 2013, every single person who relies on food stamps (SNAP) to help them feed their families will see a cut in the amount they receive. It has nothing to do with the federal shutdown, nor with the House of Representative’s bill that attempts to cut $40 billion from the program over the next 10 years. This is simply the expiration of a modest 2009 boost in benefits to SNAP recipients, which was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to strengthen the economy and ease hardship.

Additionally, private charities have already been pushed past their breaking point following a 46% demand in increase for food during the recession. The food stamp meals lost from the November 1 cuts and the proposed farm bill cuts would actually be more than the annual meal distribution by all the food banks in the country together - nearly 3.4 billion meals).

The vast majority of food stamp recipients are real people who are struggling for something everyone in America should have access to - enough nutritious food to live an active, healthy life. This isn’t a want. It’s a need. Do we expect our citizens to be able to give their best at work and school if they don’t have enough to eat? And the people affected aren’t just imaginary characters. They could be our neighbors, co-workers or our children’s classmates; and in many cases, they could even be our family members, our friends or ourselves.

If you or someone you know currently receives the SNAP benefit, your voice on this subject has power. I encourage you - and anyone else who cares - to contact your representatives. We can’t change the November cuts. But we can avert the disaster that would ensue from $40 billion more in SNAP cuts over the next 10 years.